PCOS, prolactin and brain tumor, and cant get pregnant! Please, help with your answers!

I am 23 yrs old, been diagnosed with PCOS, trying to conceive for almost a year. Doctor prescribed Dydrogesterone,10mg,to help me get and regularize my periods. Took the mention pill since May,07 to Oct. 07, i had to stop because i was having even more irregular periods, spotting. Now, today ( jan 30) went to doctor, the cysts on my ovaries are still the same ( normal sign of a patient with pcos ) but as ive been ttc for over a year, he suggested that i should take a blood test to see how levels of prolactin are. If it is too high, he said that there might be a tumor in the brain.
I wanted to ask, and try to find out if you have been diagnosed with the same, or you know somebody. What are the chances of getting pregnant ? Does the tumor has to be removed? or you only take pills to get the prolac. level low? does it have any effect on the baby, or in the mother? is there any risks? etc.
Thank you very much for your answers...

Linda

[1nana]

I'm assuming the tumor you are referring to is a pituitary tumor. These types of tumors are almost always benign (non cancerous). Most of the time the tumor can be removed through the nasal cavity, unless it's rapidly growing and too large, then they will have to go through the skull.

[sunbeamin]

Linda,

I was diagnosed with a prolactinoma (prolactin producing pituitary tumor) after the birth of my first child.  I had likely had it for many years, and it was rather miraculous that I was able to conceive my first child at all (many skipped periods).  Because I was wanting to have another child and the pituitary tumor was pressing on my optic nerve, I did have surgery.  It was very successful, my periods returned to normal, like clockwork, which they had never been.  And I was pregnant with my son within a couple months of the surgery!  Don't give up hope, but do talk to doctors that have a lot of experience with pituitary disease.  Also, check on line with Pituitary Network Association.  The site is a great source for information and resources.

Good Luck!
Angie

[daysie_d]

Not sure if you're still looking for info, but I have a prolactinoma as well, actually "macro prolactinoma". I have a one year old son... maybe I will put the good news first! :)

I have had surgery too (transsphenoidal/nasal) to debulk it due to optic nerve issues though they knew at the time it would not fully remove the tumour due to its size.

I did take (and I continue to take) meds to get the prolactin levels down but also needed to be put on a cycle of GnRH to induce ovulation (http://www.ivf.com/gnrh.html).

Some long term effects can be with estrogen/calcium issues, but overall there is very little effect on mom or baby.

Hope that helps!

[InfantryarmyWife]

I was 15 when I found out I had a prolactoma pituitary tumor. I hadn't had any periods and was wanted bc with my bf to be safe (now my hubby) and my prolactin level was 776. I immediatly had and MRI to find a tumor on my pituitary gland the size of a golf ball he said, only a sliver of the actual gland left itself. I was into surgery 3 weeks later, the did nurosurgery of course thru my nose and mouth and scraped as much as they could out. I was in hospital for a few weeks after. 6 monthes later I was to find it was comming back, so I thn was sent to do the gamma knife procedure. Worked pretty well got down to the 100's, almost normal. Bt not quite.  I was thn put on medication to help maintain and lower the levels, 6 monthes past and my level has made it to 12. Almost normal! But it's been jumping up and down since. I was thn at the time 17, done with school and married. We have been trying to concieve (conceive) a few years now and no luck. :/
I'm going to see someone else about new fertility and hormone meds to help. But my last doctor said it may never happen :'( so always go to check to make sure the tumor doesn't get big enough to take that much if pituitary gland! U shud b able to with enuff meds. Good luck!
-Sarah